STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3313

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1739

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1739, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the Comprehensive Offender Reentry System provides programs and services that result in the timely release of inmates on parole when the minimum term, rather than the maximum term, has been served by the inmate.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Common Cause Hawaii, and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that existing sentencing laws provide that the courts are responsible for setting maximum terms of imprisonment in accordance with statute.  The Hawaii Paroling Authority establishes the minimum terms, at which point the inmate becomes eligible for release into the community on parole.  Existing laws further promote community safety by requiring the Department of Public Safety to develop and implement comprehensive reentry plans to help each inmate.  Such plans prepare inmates, upon parole eligibility, to make the difficult transition from the highly structured prison setting to life in the community.  When offenders are held until their maximum terms expire, they have much more difficulty succeeding after release.  This measure will reduce recidivism and give inmates the best chance to succeed after release by clarifying that the Comprehensive Offender Reentry System provides programs and services that result in the timely release of inmates on parole when the minimum term, rather than the maximum term, has been served by the inmate.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1739, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair